Photo courtesy of Anadolu
Australia will receive only second-hand nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS defence agreement, Defence Minister Richard Marles said, citing cost and efficiency gains under the revised arrangement.
Marles said the updated plan replaces earlier expectations that Canberra would acquire a mix of used and newly built Virginia-class submarines from the United States.
Under the revised setup, Australia will instead acquire solely pre-owned Virginia-class submarines sourced from the US fleet.
Officials said the adjustment was part of a broader effort to streamline the programme, including supply chain management, maintenance requirements and operational planning.
The United States, United Kingdom and Australia jointly described the change as a way to improve efficiency and reduce overall costs while maintaining capability goals.
The AUKUS partnership, formed to strengthen defence cooperation among the three allies, remains a key security arrangement in the Indo-Pacific region.
Financial commitments for the project include about £4 billion from the UK, $17.5 billion from the US, and more than A$30 billion from Australia.
The submarine programme is expected to enhance Australia’s long-term undersea warfare capability as part of its broader military modernization efforts. (Anadolu)